TRADITIONAL WEAVING OF ETHNIC CHAM IN VIETNAM AT THE THRESHOLD OF NEW CENTURY-21st CENTURY

Abstract

Southeast Asian is considered as one of the cradle of wet-rice agriculture. Besides the vital role of agriculture, truditional weaving of this region also plays un important role in economic and cultural life of this region's habitants. These two sectors altogether create this region's specific traits. Besides economic function, the truditional weaving also has been the place to restore cultural values of each community. The traditional weaving of ethnic Chum is one of the cuses. Traditional weaving of Cham community in Vietnam has existed and developed since the early time of the process of community consolidation. And it is still one of the main traditional jobs to sustain their lives in the current time. Its position has been affirmed through many changing periods of ime in history. In front of the threshold of new icntury, Vietnamese traditional weaving in particular and that of other countries in Southeast Asian in general, are facing some new critical challenges. It requires them have to have big efforts to overcome new difficulties of this turning point in order to be able to continue existing and developing.